2021_Book_TextbookOfPatientSafetyAndClin

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• Guidelines can improve patient safety, streamline
methods of care, lower costs and increase
efficiency
• Communication and academic discussions
among Clinicians and Department staff may
ensure a smooth process for implementation
of guidelines, e.g., hand washing practices/
reducing rates of central venous catheterrelated
infection
• Ensure guidelines are updated regularly
• Institutional support from leadership and
making evidence-based guidelines a habit
among all levels of staff
15.4.6 Adapting to Changing
Realities
15.4.6.1 Digitization
Opportunities for using data to improve the health
system are partially driven by technological
advances. New analytical methods, more efficient
processing, and automation of routine analyses
and analytics, for example, make it easier to
draw insights from health data and to present the
resulting information in an actionable format.
In the clinical setting, secondary use of health
data can improve quality initiatives and the effectiveness
of frontline care. For health system management,
health data can be used to manage and
improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the
health system by informing program, policy, and
funding decisions. For example, costs can be
reduced by identifying ineffective interventions,
missed opportunities, and duplication of services.
To facilitate health research, health data can
be used to support research that informs clinical
programs, health system management, and population
and public health. Such research spans
multiple fields.
15.4.6.2 Measuring Patient Feedback
Patient feedback systems are used to know their
experiences when visiting the hospital, understanding
of the services hospitals offer and opinions
on changes you may have recently introduced
or plan to make.
R. Pini et al.
With a good feedback system, one can increase
your understanding of what patients think about a
hospital, understand areas of concern and take
action to transform the experience for patients.
One can make changes and use the system to
monitor patient reaction, gradually improving the
practice based on accurate feedback.
Patient experience measures:
• should be developed with patient input to
ensure that they are representative of their
needs, values, and preferences
• reveal critical information about the extent to
which care is truly patient centered
• provide a rigorous, validated alternative to the
subjective reviews that are posted on a large
number of review sites
Service Excellency
Other than the time lines mentioned at the 4 priority
levels, other measures that may be undertaken
to reduce times:
• Gather prior information about arrival of
patient
• Delegate documentation to other trained staff
• Create appropriate policies in order to reduce
time
• Use telecommunication systems to deliver relevant
information about patient from the time
of first paramedic contact
Clinical Audit
• The review of clinical performance against
agreed standards, and the refining of clinical
practice as a result—a cyclical process of
quality improvement in clinical care.
• The systematic critical analysis of the quality
of health care, including the procedures used
for diagnosis, treatment and care, the use of
resources, and the resulting outcome and quality
of life for patients.
• Monitor the use of particular interventions, or
the care received by patients, against agreed
standards. Any deviation from “best practices”
can then be examined in order to understand
and act upon the causes.